THE New chairman of Cwmbran Community Council has been announced.

Councillor Peter Cathcart has been elected as chairman of the council and will serve from 2018 to 2019.

He had previously served as an independent county councillor for Torfaen council, representing the Pontnewydd from 2008 to 2012.

During his four-year term he served as chairman of the resources committee.

But after losing his seat, he then turned his attention to being elected to Cwmbran Community Council. And in the same year, he was elected to the community council to represent The Lowlands and Avondale ward.

“It has been an absolute privilege to represent this area,” he said.

“I am very proud to listen and help solve problems in the community.

"Of course I am very excited to become chairman."

Mr Cathcart said he believes his vast experience in local government will help him in his new role.

He said: “Having served on the county council and now community council it has given me a lot of experience and knowledge.

“I feel that I have a lot to bring to the role and am very excited about it.

“It is going to be a pleasurable and fun experience.”

He said that he got involved in politics because he wanted to “help people”.

“I have always been a socialist through and through,” he said.

“I have always wanted to help people for as long as I can remember.

“I did so when I was an independent and continue to do so after my defection to the Labour Party. Becoming chairman has given me another opportunity to help.”

This week, the new chairman also laid out his two priorities.

“I have two priorities as chairman,” he said.

“Firstly I want to refurbish the community buildings where we meet in Old Cwmbran. It really needs updating, especially as we have guests visiting quite often.

“The other priority will be to support two causes very close to my heart. The first is Prostrate Cancer UK charity and the heart unit in the Royal Gwent Hospital. I had a bypass and want to say my thanks to them.”

He added: “I would also like to pay tribute to the wonderful work done by my predecessor, Bob Jones.

“He did a lot of good work.”

Mr Cathcart succeeds the late Bob Jones, who was serving as chairman when he died suddenly at the age of 84 on April 22.

Mr Jones had also been mayor of the county borough from 2009 to 2010, standing as a county councillor for Upper Cwmbran from 2004 to 2012.

Mr Cathcart was born in Manchester and had been a miner.

He later became a teacher and moved to Cwmbran in 1981 as an advisory teacher.

He is married with four children and lives in Station Road, Pontnewydd.

For more information on the role of Cwmbran Community Council, visit www.cwmbran.gov.uk/